Padrões de prática de atividade física em adolescentes de João Pessoa Paraíba

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the patterns of physical activity practice and to analyze their possible relationships with sociodemographic characteristics in adolescents from João Pessoa (PB). This is a cross-sectional study, with a sample of 1.438 adolescents (10 - 14 years of age) enrolled in public schools in João Pessoa (PB). The practice of physical activity was measured through of a questionnaire and the patterns defined by the indicators: types of practice, frequency and duration of the activities practiced; total practice time; proportion of adolescents classified as physically active. The most practiced physical activities were: active displacement to school (66,7%), games/street games (52,5%), active displacement to the house of friends and other places (52,2%), soccer (49,0%) and cycling (40,2%). Most activities were practiced for approximately one hour per day, about 50% of activities for two or more days/week, and about seven out of ten adolescents were classified as physically active. The proportion of physically active adolescents was 66,8%, being higher in males (78,7%) compared to females (56,2%; p < 0,05). It was concluded that the types of practice and the proportion of adolescents classified as physically active showed associations with the sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents.